[CUADPUpdate] Activism Advice

[Abraham J. Bonowitz]

Greetings All,

For some reason, in the past 24 hours I have 
received a flurry of requests for assistance or 
advice, and of course, questions from students 
needing a "live interview" for a report.  Below are some responses.

But first, I want to apologize to those of you 
who have filled out the Volunteer form at 
http://www.cuadp.org/contact.html -- I've fallen 
down on the job in attempting to keep up with 
appropriate responses, but CUADP volunteer Pam 
has added you to this list.  Know that posts to 
CUADPUpdate are rather infrequent these days as 
its director is on sabbatical and focused on a 
new family, several boards of directors and 
related projects, not to mention a full time 
position with the soon-to-be-unnecessary New 
Jerseyans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty 
http://www.NJADP.org. We are only getting 
busier....  Nevertheless, I will attempt to catch 
up and I will continue to post occasional ideas and opportunities for activism.

I'll note as we approach the holiday season that 
November 24th is "International Buy Nothing Day" 
(see http://adbusters.org/metas/eco/bnd/index.php 
).  But when you are ready to shop, purchase 
through the Amazon.com link at the bottom of 
http://www.CUADP.org and CUADP gets a cut!  And 
maybe I'll get around to finishing the new 
AbolitionWear site, where you can see some of the 
new items already on display at 
http://www.abolitionwear.org (See stickers and 
buttons).  If you want to order something, just 
e-mail <abe at abolition.org> for instructions.

I'll also note that while CUADP's director is on 
sabbatical, from the below you can see that the 
organization maintains a presence and a 
relevance, and accordingly, there are still bills 
to pay.  Assistance is appreciated.  See 
http://www.cuadp.org/support.html to use PayPal 
or a major credit card, or send a check or money 
order to the address below.  Make your 
contribution TAX DEDUCTIBLE by making your check 
payable to the Florida Coalition for Peace & Justice.

CUADP
PMB 335
2603 NW 13th St.
Gainesville, FL  32609

Thanks.

And now, some Activism Advice:

At 03:41 PM 11/20/2006, E.D. wrote:
>To Whom It May Concern:
>
>I hope this email finds you well. I was hoping 
>to get more information about how to become 
>involved in abolishing the death penalty and by 
>giving my time to help exonerate those who are 
>innocent but on death row.  I live in Los 
>Angeles now, but I am very open to relocation. I 
>am not sure if you have a branch in Southern 
>California.  If not, do you know of 
>organizations I can contact here to become 
>involved? I am graduating law school this 
>semester, and want to donate all my time to this 
>cause, especially before the bar in July. I 
>acknowledge you for being so inspiring and active. Thank you!
>
>E. D.

(While the below is California-specific, the same 
applies to every state....  Find your state group 
at http://ncadp.org/affiliate_links.html)

HI E.,

It's not just the innocent.  It's the issue as a whole.

Get with Death Penalty Focus - I'll forward their 
latest action alert in another message.  The best 
thing you can do is take that alert and make it 
your personal mission to put it into as many 
peoples hands as possible.  But don't stop 
there.  Anywhere you can find a group of two or 
more people, make an appointment to sit down with 
them and write their letter to their legislators 
and the governor with the simple message, "I 
oppose the death penalty and I urge you to 
support legislation to replace executions with 
life without parole," and add their address and 
contact information, including their names, home 
address, phone and e-mail if possible.  A few 
more hand written lines are nice, but not 
necessary.  There is certainly a resource 
available to help you determine to whom letters 
should be written based on where an individual 
lives.  Then, collect the letters back, and mail 
them.  Ask people to make a donation toward the 
costs of a variety of stationary that you can 
have on hand, as well as postage.  Accept letters 
from all who will write, even if they can't make 
a donation.  Those who can help will more than cover the costs.

Make sure you are up on the latest information 
about the issue so you can discuss it 
intelligently.  They key to a successful 
discussion with a person who thinks they support 
the death penalty (or who isn't sure but has 
concerns) is to ask them why they support it and 
LISTEN.  Let them go until they stop.  Then, 
address the specific motivation of the person you 
are talking to, helping them understand the 
truth, which may often simply be a different way 
of looking at the same information.  But don't 
waste your time arguing with people - plant a 
seed of doubt and move on to people who agree 
with you, because it only takes the "active 
majority" to get noticed and make movements with legislators.

When you find someone willing to gather their own 
group and have you come help them write letters, 
all the better!  Draw people in by staging a 
public event where you bring someone with the 
voice of experience - a victim family member, a 
survivor of wrongful conviction, a death row 
family member, or a person with specific 
knowledge AND the ability to share same in an intelligent and engaging way.

But most importantly, always ask every person you 
encounter to let their name be added to the 
statewide database so that when it is time to 
again communicate with their legislators, they 
can be easily reached.  Tell them that if the 
state group is doings its job, there will be 
occasional communications (most often by e-mail), 
that they can do in five or ten minutes that 
will, over time, make the difference.  When 
victory comes, and it will, then they will be 
proud to have been along for the ride from the first time you organize them.

Turn the names in to [specific person responsible 
for organizing at the state level], who is cc'd on this message.

Keep your focus on the broader issue, but use 
cases in the news to illustrate issues of 
concern.  And it would not hurt to actually study the relevant law.

Make a commitment to do this aggressively as much 
as time permits up to the time you take the bar 
(be sure to prep!).  In seven months you will 
learn how to build an effective network for 
organizing and action, you will learn a lot of 
lessons about and hone your skills for dealing 
with and motivating people, you will learn the 
issue inside and out, and you will educate and 
activate a not insignificant force for change.

If you want a mentor for guidance, let me know.

Let me know how it goes from time to time.  OK?

paz!

--abe

*******************


>From: Eruthpope at aol.com
>Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2006 16:00:39 EST
>Subject: Re: Olen Clay Gorby, #286-008 UCI
>To: abe at cuadp.org
>
>Dear Abe Bonowitz,
>We met about 3 1/2 years ago when we marched 
>against the war in West Palm Beach.
>Right now, I'm concerned over an inmate at UCI 
>who has not been adequately or fairly represented by his attorney, Mr. D.
>I am attaching a statement by state's witness, 
>Jerry Wyche, that put Mr. Gorby on death row, as 
>well as a letter I wrote to Mr. D over a month 
>ago, and the letter I wrote today to John 
>Holdridge ACLUF Atty at law. These letters will explain my concern.
>
>I have scanned the Statement by Mr. Wyche, yet 
>I'm fearful it will not transmit in readable 
>condition. I will attach it but also will follow 
>with a typed version to assure your receipt of a 
>legible copy. These letters and statement will 
>help you understand Mr. Gorby's current positon 
>and reason for immediate concern. Thank you for anything you can do.
>
>Elaine Pope

Elaine, I am not an attorney, and I don't have 
the time or ability to take on individual 
cases.  I am also not in a position to judge the 
attorney you allege is failing to do his 
job.  You might try calling the attorney a couple 
of times before taking any next steps.  If you 
suspect malfeasance, complain to the Florida 
Commission on Capital Cases, and if the attorney 
has a supervisor, then to that person as 
well.  Just remember that it is not the 
attorney's job to talk to you, and he may well be 
overwhelmed with several cases even more pressing 
than this one.  Otherwise, the best thing I can 
suggest is that you find a way to interest the 
local media in the case.  To do that I suggest 
you condense your material to something that can 
be read in 60 to 90 seconds, and that is 
compelling enough to get a journalist to want to 
know more.  When they ask, THEN give them the 
attachments and whatnot....  Research the news 
coverage on the case, and start with the 
journalists or outlets who have been covering it 
since the crime occurred.  If they ignore you, go 
to the competing media in the area, and 
alternative media.  Keep knocking on doors until 
you find someone with the power to influence 
those who can make the decisions you seek.

I include your e-mail in the above message so 
that those who receive this who would like to see 
your attachments and/or perhaps work with you on 
the case can be in touch with you directly.  Let me know how it goes.

paz!

--abe

***************


I love Molly's attitude.  If you would join her, 
please contact her directly....

BTW, Molly, the NY Times had a piece about a 
recent hunger strike on death row in Texas.  You 
might try contacting the reporter who wrote that....

>From: "Molly Johnson" <mollykj at email.com>
>To: abe at cuadp.org
>Subject: Death Row inmate on hunger strike
>
>Hi Abe!
>You may be on hiatus, but you know what they 
>say: "You can take Abe out of CUADP, but you'll 
>never take CUADP out of Abe!" I'm hoping you can 
>pass this on to any and all appropriate parties 
>with your usual inspirational urgency.
>
>I have gotten word from Gary Sampson that 
>Chadrick Fulks, a 30-year-old white male 
>currently on death row in Terre Haute, has been 
>on a hunger strike since the beginning of (this) 
>November. His condition is rapidly 
>deteriorating, and as you know, medical and 
>mental health care in prison is, sketchy, shall 
>we say? I've send a note to the Amnesty people 
>in Indiana, and am trying to get in touch with 
>the AP. Lacking ANY experience in writing press 
>releases and such things, I'm hoping our AI 
>folks will carry the ball. But until I hear 
>back, I am the lone clarion call in the 
>wilderness....won't you join my wee band? We're 
>little, but we're loud! And one day, we WILL prevail.
>
>Much love, and snuggles to Isaac. I'm thinking 
>of an arranged marriage for him and Sasha 
>Langley....an unstoppable force for justice!
>
>Molly K. Johnson
>mollykj at email.com
>(781) 789-9758

********************


A student in Nebraska sent the following 
questions, to which I committed ten 
minutes.  Here are my responses.  If you would 
like to help CUADP respond to similar student 
inquiries, let me know at <abe at abolition.org>.

Interview Questions:

1.      Do you think the death penalty is cruel 
and unusual punishment? Why or why not?

It is.  Telling someone we are going to put you 
in a closet until it is time to kill you, and we 
are going to do everything we can to dehumanize 
you and deny you your humanity is cruel.  But 
even if it were not, no one can argue that the 
death penalty is not unusual, because it is 
applied in fewer than 1% of the cases where it is a possible punishment.

2.      Do you think a person who commits a 
horrendous crime or who kills another individual 
deserves to die?  Why or why not?

Such an individual deserves whatever they get 
coming to them.  The real question is if society 
deserves the power, or the obligation to kill, 
which it does not.  After all, government cannot 
be trusted to fill potholes properly, to tax us 
fairly, or even to hold clean elections.  How can 
we trust government with the power to kill?

3.      Do you think it is more cruel to lock up 
a prisoner for long periods or for life rather 
than to execute the individual? Why?

While I believe that life in prison with no 
possibility of parole is a harder punishment than 
execution, it is not inherently cruel.  It is 
*possible* to incarcerate in such a way that a 
prisoner maintains a level of dignity and self 
worth, is not physically abused, and has some 
value to their life, and may even be allowed to 
hold a job to earn some money which may be used 
to help pay back to the victims of their crime, 
or to a fund to assist the survivors of a 
victim
.  The torture of the death penalty is not 
in the killing, it is in the wait, and the legal process.


4.      How can states abolish the death penalty 
when the majority of public opinion is in favor of it?

Regarding public opinion, the question is not 
whether the public supports the death penalty, 
but rather, would the public support the death 
penalty if it actually understood how the death 
penalty fails us.  And the fact is that when 
offered the alternative of LWOP plus restitution 
to the victims families, more people pick the 
alternative.  It’s all in how you ask the 
question, and how much the person being asked 
actually understands about the way the system 
actually functions, or fails to function, as the 
case may be.  See “public opinion” at 
<http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/>www.deathpenaltyinfo.org


5.      Death penalty opponents often say that 
capital punishment is not a deterrent to crime 
while proponents say it is.  Which is it?

No credible, peer reviewed academic study can 
demonstrate with any degree of certainty that the 
death penalty deters.  What deters is not the 
fear of a certain punishment, but the certainty 
of a certain punishment.  For the most part, 
people who commit murder are not planning to get 
caught, so how is it that the death penalty 
deters?  One thing is certain ­ the death penalty 
deters the people we execute, but those people 
can be equally deterred by incarceration.


6.      Do you think we owe it to murder victims 
and their families to execute the person who took 
their loved one away?   Isn’t it true that most 
murder victims’ families support capital punishment?

IF the death penalty is a commodity for victims 
families, then we are using it far too 
infrequently, and what we are saying to more than 
99% of victims families (and that is only in 
cases where there is an arrest and a conviction 
in a “death eligible” case) is “your loved one 
was not valuable enough.”  In fact, the death 
penalty heightens and prolongs the pain of 
victims families because we tell them to wait 
until we kill the guy and then you will feel 
better.  This puts the healing process on hold 
for 5, ten, even as long as 27 years in the case 
of the man in Florida who has an execution date 
of December 13, 2006.  There is no such thing as 
“closure,” and no amount of killing will bring 
back the victims of murder.  Victims families 
most want to know what happened, and why.  While 
some want vengeance, it should not be the role of 
society to exact same, and if it is, then we are 
failing in the vast majority of cases.

I think many victims families may want vengeance 
in the immediate aftermath of the crime, but over 
time what they want is healing, and executions do 
not bring healing.  We know, for example, that 
according to Bud Welch, the president of the 
association of victims families in the Oklahoma 
City bombing case, that by the time McVeigh was 
executed, more than half of the victims families 
did not want that execution.  Some opposed it 
because they oppose executions on moral grounds, 
and others because they thought it would be 
harder on McVeigh ­ that he would suffer more ­ 
if he had to live out the rest of his days in a prison cell.

Learn more about what Victims families need and 
want at www.mvfr.org, www.mvfhr.org, and www.journeyofhope.org


7.      Do you think the death penalty is 
consistent with the Eighth Amendment's 
prohibition against the imposition of cruel and 
unusual punishments?  Why or why not?

I am not a lawyer, but see my answer above.


8.      Do you think the death penalty is necessary as a deterrent to crime?

No.  See above.

9.      Do you think life imprisonment without 
parole is more cruel than executing someone?  Why or why not?

See above.

10.  Do you think race affects the death penalty trial?

There is no question that racism is pervasive in 
our legal system.  But the real evidence of 
racism in the death penalty can be found not in 
the race of the killers but in the race of the 
victims.  80% of all executions since 1977 have 
been for the murder of white victims, even though 
people of color are the victims of murder more than half the time.

*************

Of course, feedback is welcome but may not be 
immediately responded to.  All opinions expressed 
are those of its director and no other person or entity.

Wishing you and yours all the best for a safe, 
healthy and happy holiday season.

--abe

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